"Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." (Matthew 24:44, NRSV)
This was the last line from our Gospel passage last Sunday, beginning this year's season of Advent. God was going to come to Earth and dwell among us as an unexpected hour. Frightening to say the least.
They didn't know how God would take shape. They didn't know when it would happen. They didn't know what it would mean for them. All they knew was that he would come. That's it. Because they didn't know how it would all happen, their Advent–their time of waiting–was very long, challenging, and frustrating.
We Christians who use the liturgical calendar recognize the season of Advent year after year because we continually are looking for Jesus among us. We, like the people two-thousand years ago, have no idea how to see Jesus. We, like the people two-thousand years ago, have no idea when the Messiah will come. All we know is that he will come and that he is love.
Arkansas is currently experiencing some unexpected weather. We are having a supposed ice storm over the weekend, and most of the state is in complete uproar. For my family, this has already brought us closer. No school, movies together, dinner together, loving conversation, and so forth. Jesus is already coming among us, and we still have three weeks 'till Christmas!
As we wait in this Advent season, stay awake, keep watch, and look for Christ's loving presence. You might be surprised!
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